22 whiskies for £70 and under to celebrate World Whisky Day - including Glenfiddich and Bowmore

Scotsman

15-05-2025

World Whisky Day was set up in 2012 by author and consultant Blair Bowman, who, when he was at university, decided to buy the domain name and set up a website that explored our national drink.
Since then it has grown into a global celebration of Scotch whisky, with many brands and bars putting on events and deals in order to explore whisky.
With this in mind, we've picked a few of our favourite whiskies to celebrate World Whisky Day with. From new releases to core range expressions, all of these are £50 or under.
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Port of Leith Table whisky, £39.47
Table whisky is the house pour of the Port of Leith Distillery bar, designed to be shared.
A single grain whisky distilled in Edinburgh, matured in virgin oak and sherry casks, and blended in Leith. It's delicious, reliable, approachable and rich.
It's available from Master of Malt. Click here to buy.
Glasgow 1770 The Original, £43.75
The bottling from the distillery that brought single malt whisky distilling back to Glasgow after more than a century, Glasgow 1770 The Original is a dram for any occasion.
It has notes of orange marmalade, raisins and sweet butterscotch.
Buy it from Master of Malt: click here.
Glenfiddich Our Solera Fifteen, £57.50
Never emptied and continuously kept half full of whiskies since 1998, Glenfiddich's Solera vat marked its 25th anniversary in 2024.
The Glenfiddich Our Solera Fifteen is one of the Speyside whisky maker's flagship bottlings, and it's a beautifully fruity dram ideal to enjoy in sunny May weather.
Available from House of Malt and you can Buy it here.
Glen Moray Elgin Classic, £26.50
This is a very drinkable whisky, and is a steal for a single malt. The liquid is aged for an average of seven years in ex-bourbon casks, most of which are first fill, giving it a sweet flavour that'll also appear to those trying whisky for the first time.
This distillery is known for its affordable prices and quality drams, and - every so often - very experimental whiskies including a now unavailable cider cask finish and the latest Maple exploration spirit drink (which can't legally be called whisky.
For a taste of the classic, and where it all started you can buy from Master of Malt here.
Johnnie Walker Black Label, £28.95
Johnnie Walker Black Label is one of the most recognisable blended Scotch whiskies.
It is made by bringing together 29+ whiskies to create a sweet and slightly smoky taste that's loved all over the world.
Delicious on its own, it also works really well in cocktails and refreshing highballs.
Buy it here.
Monkey Shoulder, £28.90
The whisky that put blended malts back in fashion and helped bring whisky cocktails into the conversation.
Made for cocktails and released in 2000, this really was a whisky ahead of its time - and it has always been a very affordable buy.
Made from a mix of three different Speyside Single Malts – Glenfiddich, Balvenie and Kininvie – Monkey Shoulder is popularly used in cocktails but is also great enjoyed neat.
Or, for a simple tipple, just add ginger ale or soda for a delicious highball.
Buy it here.
Benriach The Original Ten, £36.90
Delve into a world of flavour with Benriach The Original Ten, encapsulating the signature smooth and multi-layered character of Benriach.
A classic combination of casks combined with Benriach's fruity spirit makes for a great tasting and easy-drinking whisky to celebrate.
Master blender Dr Rachel Barrie said this whisky is "a more richly flavoured, rounded malt character."
Buy it here.
Glenglassaugh 12 Years Old, £49.50
This coastal malt has matured in casks overlooking Sandend Bay in the north east of Scotland.
Recently named a favourite for whisky drinkers, Glenglassaugh is something of a hidden gem.
Making up one third of the brand's newly reimagined portfolio, Glenglassaugh 12 Years Old embodies a harmonious balance of the distillery's signature coastal style; lush, tropical and coastal.
Buy it here.
The Borders Distillery WS:02 The Long & Short of It, £35
If you've ever been on a distillery tour you'll know that fermentation is an essential part of determining flavour in Scotch Whisky, and in this whisky, this process is at the heart of the liquid.
For this second edition of the Workshop Series, the distillers at the Borders Distillery experimented with very short and very long fermentations.
Both batches were then distilled twice and matured in first fill ex-bourbon barrels, before being married with single grain.
Buy it here.
Bowmore 12 year old, £40.50
For those who like bold and punchy flavours, then the Bowmore 12 is an excellent whisky to introduce you to the joys of peat and smoke.
Exceptionally drinkable and filled with the iodine flavours of some of the more astringent Islay whiskies (Laphroaig anyone?), the Bowmore's peat level hovers around the middle ground.
When mixed with the tropical fruit flavours of the distillery's style, you get a dram that's peaty but well balanced, even for beginners.
Buy it here.
Nc'nean Organic single malt whisky, £67.94
Nc'nean's Organic Single Malt is the first whisky released to the public by this independent distillery.
Organic, made with renewable energy and bottled in the UK's first-ever 100 per cent recycled clear glass bottle, the whisky showcases Nc'nean's commitment to protecting the environment.
Nc'nean's whisky is made from organic Scottish barley whose natural yields and rich soils contribute great depth of flavour, and gentle fermentation and distillation accentuate the delicate, fruity flavours in the spirit.
The whisky achieves its signature body and sweetness from having been left to mature for three years in selected ex-Bourbon and specially treated STR ex-red wine barrels.
Buy it here.
Ledaig Sinclair Series Rioja Cask Finish, £40
This is the first release in the Sinclair series, and is a heavily peated dram. Matured in ex-bourbon casks, it has been finished in Spanish Rioja casks.
Tasting notes include Turkish delight, candied fruit, grapes, chocolate, almonds and pepper.
Buy it here.
Glen Scotia double cask, £37.95
A firm favourite of Master Distiller and Distillery Manager, Iain McAlister, Glen Scotia's Double Cask is a wonderful introduction to the distillery style.
Rich and spicy, this single malt is matured in first-fill bourbon casks with a 12-month finish in Pedro Ximenez sherry casks.
It has the classic Campbeltown notes of maritime sea salt spray, apple and pear, with the influence of rich spicy fruit notes from the PX casks. Bottled at 46% ABV and non-chill filtered.
Buy it here.
Loch Lomond Whiskies Steam & Fire & 'Scorched' book bundle, £50
Steam and Fire has been created using spirit from the distillery's straight neck and more traditional swan neck stills, and has been matured in three different types of American oak casks and finished in heavily charred casks, flamed by Loch Lomond's in-house cooperage.
The charring process adds a unique complexity and brings out a strong character of melted brown sugar with notes of orange and dark chocolate, with a rich buttery mouthfeel. Bottled at 46% ABV and non-chill filtered.
In 2023, Loch Lomond Whiskies collaborated with renowned open-fire chef Genevieve Taylor to lift the lid on the complex whisky-making process and showcase the influence of charring.
For a limited time only, the distiller will be offering a deal on Steam & Fire and Genevieve's latest book 'Scorched', which explores the fascinating science of fire cooking with fish with more than 85 recipes.
Buy it here.
Noble Rebel Whisky Orchard Burst, £37
Matured in ex-bourbon casks, Orchard Outburst balances crisp, ripe orchard fruits with surprising flavours of crashing salty ocean waves, resulting in an explosion of zest with hints of zingy lemon and lime.
This intriguing malt contains whisky distilled with Chardonnay wine yeast, a relatively unusual ingredient in whisky distillation which helps to intensify fruit and citrus flavours in the finished blend
Buy it here.
Glenmorangie Triple Cask Reserve, £33.50
Toast to Word Whisky Day with a dram of Glenmorangie's new core range expression - Glenmorangie Triple Cask Reserve.
Inspired by the natural splendour of the Glenmorangie's Highland home, this whisky has been matured in a combination of classic bourbon casks, new charred oak casks and rye whiskey casks, creating a deep harmony of flavour.
With its symphony of fruity aromas and creamy rich tastes, subtly cut through with spice, Glenmorangie Triple Cask Reserve is delicious served neat, on ice or in cocktails.
Buy it here.
Ardbeg Wee Beastie, £35.25
For over 200 years, Ardbeg has been made on the remote Scottish isle of Islay, and this single-malt showcases the daring, experimental side of the distillery.
Aged just 5 years, Wee Beastie is Ardbeg's youngest whisky yet and accentuates the raw power of Islay whisky.
Matured in ex-bourbon and Oloroso sherry casks and untamed by age, it boasts intense aromas of cracked black pepper, sappy pine resin, tar and sharp tangs of smoke.
It's a monster of a dram and will be loved by those who enjoy a heavily peated whisky.
Buy it here.
SMWS Wandering Alchemy, £70
Wandering Alchemy is a small-batch blended malt using ingredients from each of the five Scotch whisky-producing regions.
The bottling represents a first for the Society, blending whiskies from Speyside, Highlands, Lowlands, Islay, and Campbeltown, resulting in a nostalgic dram with smoky and honey notes.
Kai Ivalo, Whisky Director at SMWS, said: 'The 35 casks we have selected for our Whisky Wanderers Festivals 2025 offering this year showcase a diverse range of spirit styles and cask types that embody what the Society is all about.
"Each cask has undergone carefully considered additional maturation to enhance complexity, allowing us to explore the full spectrum of Scotch whisky flavours. These expressions reinforce that at SMWS, our 'norm' is off the beaten track - offering unique whiskies that can only be discovered as a member.
'Our theme this year is 'Whisky with a taste for adventure', which is why we are celebrating festivals differently with three unique off the beaten track events.
"From foraging in the heart of Speyside to a 33-mile cycle ride of the dramatic Kintyre Peninsula, each event will give our members the chance to experience Scotland's whisky landscape in a whole new light.'
Find out more and buy here.
Glencadam Reserva PX, £47
Glencadam Reserva PX has been matured in ex-bourbon American oak casks before being expertly married then finished in hand selected Pedro Ximénez Sherry butts sourced from Andalucia, Spain.
Bottled at 46% ABV, natural colour and unchillfiltered, the expression offers a perfumed aroma with raspberry and blackcurrant jams and nutmeg, and the complex palate features toffee, caramel, stewed apples, dates, nutmeg, and cinnamon.
This expression won the 'Best Highland Single Malt' at The World Whiskies Awards 2024.
Buy it here.
Craigellachie 13 year old, £52.95
This core range whisky from the Craigellachie distillery, which is rarely open to the public, was one of three released in 2014 and remains a fan favourite.
It's a great example of the distillery character - bold, robust and often with hints of sulphur - but there's a fruituness and smoke too.
What you'd call a 'chewy' whisky and it's fab in cocktails as it can hold its own against a range of flavours.
Buy a bottle here.
The Dram Team tasting kit, £35
From the Dram Team, this tasting box is an ideal gift for a whisky lover that's looking to try something new without spending on a full bottle this World Whisky Day.
Choose from mixed, peated or unpeated and you'll be sent five 25ml premium Scotch whiskies.
The kit also includes a lifetime membership to the subscriber only bottle shop and exclusive personalised whisky recommendations and offers.
Once you've tasted the whiskies, you can score them on the Dram Team's website so next time you order, the selection will be more curated.
After you've scored the selection from your box, you can buy a full size bottle from the Dram Team's exclusive bottle shop or they can recommend another tasting set for you.
Find out more and buy here
The Hearach, £64.95
This inaugural whisky from the Isle of Harris Distillers is a great dram to toast World Whisky Day.
Blender Shona Macleod says of the taste: 'I get a gentle peat smoke on the first sip which reminds me of island home fires burning when I was growing up.
"It comes along with a toasted maltiness. I can also taste homemade apple sauce and smell machair flowers, particularly white clover which springs up on our west coast every summer.
"Mixed spices appear, and an old-fashioned sweetness from things like candied ginger, vanilla, and honeycomb. Finally, there's a long, clotted-cream note, mixed with a lasting sense of new leather.'
You can buy a bottle here.